Suspect jailed, others are sought in theft of golf carts, vandalism

Investigators have one behind bars but they believe as many as six people may be responsible for stealing golf carts early this morning and then using them as getaway vehicles.

Sometime after midnight, the suspects are believed to have entered Premier Transportation on Perkins Road and used an on-site forklift to raise the fence surrounding the property, according to a Richmond County sheriff’s report.

Before leaving, they appear to have driven the six stolen carts into each other and damaged as many seven other vehicles.

“It looks like they had a demolition derby before they left,” said Lt. Tony Walden, who supervises the sheriff’s property crimes division.

One of the suspects was spotted by Deputy William Hultman a short time later as he was driving down Old Louisville Road in a green EZ-Go golf cart, a sheriff’s report said. When the deputy tried to stop the suspect, later identified as Derrick Druell Long, 17, of the 1800 block of North Barton Drive, he ran into the woods and was apprehended after a brief chase.

Two of the six stolen golf carts were found not far from where the suspect fled and another was located at Southside Elementary School, the report said.

Mr. Long is charged with obstruction of a law enforcement officer, theft by taking a motor vehicle, the report said.

Lt. Walden said investigators are still trying to determine the exact number of suspects and are currently out attempting to locate the two missing golf carts.